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Lawson Adds WNBA All-Star Breland as Operations Intern
11/20/2020 11:24:00 AM | Women's Basketball
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke University women's basketball head coach Kara Lawson announced Friday the addition of WNBA All-Star Jessica Breland as an operations intern for the next three months during the 2020-21 campaign.
"Our program is thrilled to have a person of Bre's character join us," said Lawson. "Her story is incredible. One of perseverance and focus. I was one of her vets when she came into the WNBA and I am proud of how her game continues to grow. She will be a powerful presence that our players can learn from daily."
A nine-year veteran of the WNBA, Breland has played with five different teams – Connecticut, New York, Indiana, Chicago and Atlanta – over her career. Breland was a 2018 WNBA First Team All-Defensive Team honoree and 2014 WNBA All-Star selection. She has appeared in 242 games, while making 180 starts over nine seasons. Breland has totaled 1,766 points, 1,423 rebounds, 324 assists, 328 blocks and 188 steals. With a 1.3 average, she currently ranks 12th all-time in career blocks per game in WNBA history. Breland has finished in the top 10 of the WNBA for total blocks in two straight seasons in 2014 and 2015.
"Nearly 10 years ago when I was a rookie in the WNBA, Kara was my vet and she took me under her wing," said Breland. "She successfully went on to break countless barriers and opened closed doors in the sports and entertainment industry."
Breland came into the league in 2011 with the Connecticut Sun as Lawson was in her 11th season in the WNBA and the duo helped the Sun collect a 21-13 ledger. Lawson and Breland guided Connecticut to a first-place finish in the Eastern Conference, before falling in the semifinals of the playoffs.
"Joining her staff at Duke is that full circle moment for me," said Breland. "I'm honored and excited to once again be under her historic leadership and experience for a second time!"
#GoDuke
"Our program is thrilled to have a person of Bre's character join us," said Lawson. "Her story is incredible. One of perseverance and focus. I was one of her vets when she came into the WNBA and I am proud of how her game continues to grow. She will be a powerful presence that our players can learn from daily."
A nine-year veteran of the WNBA, Breland has played with five different teams – Connecticut, New York, Indiana, Chicago and Atlanta – over her career. Breland was a 2018 WNBA First Team All-Defensive Team honoree and 2014 WNBA All-Star selection. She has appeared in 242 games, while making 180 starts over nine seasons. Breland has totaled 1,766 points, 1,423 rebounds, 324 assists, 328 blocks and 188 steals. With a 1.3 average, she currently ranks 12th all-time in career blocks per game in WNBA history. Breland has finished in the top 10 of the WNBA for total blocks in two straight seasons in 2014 and 2015.
"Nearly 10 years ago when I was a rookie in the WNBA, Kara was my vet and she took me under her wing," said Breland. "She successfully went on to break countless barriers and opened closed doors in the sports and entertainment industry."
Breland came into the league in 2011 with the Connecticut Sun as Lawson was in her 11th season in the WNBA and the duo helped the Sun collect a 21-13 ledger. Lawson and Breland guided Connecticut to a first-place finish in the Eastern Conference, before falling in the semifinals of the playoffs.
"Joining her staff at Duke is that full circle moment for me," said Breland. "I'm honored and excited to once again be under her historic leadership and experience for a second time!"
#GoDuke
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